Top three debit cards in India

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A recent report titled ‘Transactions 2025’ released by digital payments company AGS Transact in collaboration with ACI Worldwide says that India will see Rs 1 lakh crore worth digital transactions every year by 2025. It also says that the number of connected devices could be around 3 billion. Digital transactions include those made using credit cards and debit cards.

Do you know that the number of debit cards users in India is much higher than the number of credit card users? Data from Reserve Bank of India shows that last year there were 880 million debit card users while there were only 30 million credit card users. Even though credit card usage spiked during the demonetisation period, debit card transactions are much more than credit card transactions. If you are looking for a good debit card, here are the top three.

Axis Bank Burgundy World Debit Card

If you are a Burgundy accountholder at Axis Bank, you can go for the Burgundy World Debit Card. This card comes with a daily withdrawal limit of Rs. 2 lakh and a daily purchase limit of Rs 6 lakh. The card also provides free ATM withdrawals from any bank’s ATM in India and abroad. There are no charges for this card. The issuance and annual charges will be waived.

The card comes with many benefits such as free movie tickets and dining discounts. With the debit card, you get a buy-one-get-one offer on bookmyshow.com. You also get a 15% discount at select restaurants across India. The card gives fuel surcharge waiver of Rs 750 per month along with complimentary airport lounge access. The card gives you two reward points for every Rs 200 spent domestically and six points for every Rs 200 spent internationally.

Card Summary

Issuance fees – Nil

Annual Fees – Nil

ATM withdrawal limit – Rs 2 lakh

Lost card liability – Rs 6 lakh

Fuel surcharge waiver – Yes

HSBC Premier Platinum Debit Card

This card from HSBC bank provides a daily cash withdrawal limit of Rs 2.5 lakh a day and a purchase limit of Rs 2.5 lakh a day, which is much higher than what other banks offer for premium debit cards. The card offers many services that come with a premium credit card such as concierge services. Any HSBC Premier savings account holder can apply for this card.

With HSBC Premier Cards, you can get attractive dining privileges at Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi and Kolkata. Customers can also earn reward points by using HSBC Debit Card, at select merchant outlets and by performing select banking transactions through various channels. The card gives 24-hour access to concierge services.

Card Summary

Issuance fees – Nil

Annual Fees – Nil

ATM withdrawal limit – Rs 2.5 lakh

Lost card liability – Rs 1 lakh

Fuel surcharge waiver – No

ICICI Bank Coral Plus Debit Card

This card from ICICI bank comes with many benefits that are exclusive to credit cards like joining bonus. ICICI Bank Coral Plus Debit Card comes with joining bonuses such as discount vouchers from SRL Diagnostics and gift vouchers from Lifestyle and Kaya Skin Clinic. The card provides a number of benefits such as free movie tickets and airport lounge access.

You get complimentary Ola Select subscription when you use your Coral Debit Card for making payments on Ola mobile app. When you add Coral Debit Card on the Ola app, your free subscription will get activated. The card also provides Rs 600 cashback on domestic flight bookings on MakeMyTrip. The card gives the buy-one-get-one-free offer when you book tickets on bookmyshow.com or at Carnival cinemas or Inox movies. You can get a 15% discount at select restaurants when you use your ICICI Coral Debit Card. When you spend using your Debit Card, you get 6 PAYBACK points for every Rs 200 spent in India and 10 PAYBACK points for every Rs 200 spent abroad.

Card Summary

Issuance fees – Nil

Annual Fees – Rs. 2,988

ATM withdrawal limit – Rs 1 lakh

Purchase limit – Rs 2 lakh

Fuel surcharge waiver – No

Premium debit cards are offered by banks to only those who maintain a higher balance in their savings account. However, banks do offer premium debit cards for a fee. It is best to weight the benefits and the cost before choosing a debit card.